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Staff layoffs

I read somewhere that Harley Davidson plans to lay-off about 200 staff (both regular and casual) in the wake of declining revenues. Should this worry consumers especially after HD lost market shares to companies like Honda and Yamaha? Lay-offs are common and any company would do anything to minimize cost.

Yeah I heard about that, and how they said that those are necessary changes. But I suppose 200 out of 6,300 is still just a handful and it's something to be thankful about that they didn't lay off even more.

I will always feel bad for anyone that loses their jobs because it is never an easy situation. Nonetheless, I have realized that layoffs are common and as an employee, all you can do is always be ready for anything.

When they dropped the Dyna models, incorporating them with the Softails, it allowed them to streamline their production processes along with significant raw material inventory. Same trend like automakers using same frames and chassis across product lines. I hope it works better for HD compared to what has happened to Cadillac or back up a little further to Pontiac. If they start using lower grade components, it will bite them in the ass. I would like to think HD is smarter than that but that’s the kind of crap that can happen when the “shareholders” want more return on investment. I almost think a company like HD would be better off being privately owned by a group that has and ever lasting passion for the brand and the people that ride them. Just some thoughts.